Jeffrey Balzer confirmed that five people died in an Ohio river after several members of a group jumped in to help a struggling swimmer.
Jeffrey Balzer, the Delaware County Sheriff, reported that five people died in the Scioto River in Powell, Ohio, on Sunday. The tragedy began when one person entered the water to swim and began to struggle. Three others jumped in to assist, and two more entered the water in a final rescue attempt. A motorist called 911 after seeing a frightened child running along a nearby road to seek help. Rescue crews initially pulled two women from the water, who were pronounced dead at a hospital. The bodies of three men were recovered from the river the following day. The river was flowing at a rate of approximately 350 cubic feet per second, which was more than double the average rate. Balzer noted that the group lacked a boat and urged people to assess their swimming skills before entering the water. Two children under the age of 10 have been placed in the care of family services while authorities notify the victims' relatives.